Matt Vasquenza's Golden Goal Sends Men's Soccer Past Marquette

Saturday, October 24

Cincinnati, Ohio

7 P.M.

Xavier University

9-4-1, 3-2-1

Marquette

5-7-2, 1-4-1

Team	1	2	OT 2	Final F
Marquette	0	0	0	0
Xavier	0	0	1	1

Photo by: Doug Cochran

Matt Vasquenza's Golden Goal Sends Men's Soccer Past Marquette

10.24.15 | Men's Soccer

Box Score

Sophomore forward connects in 95th for game-winner as Musketeers get third straight result

By: Brendan Bergen, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI – Sophomore Matt Vasquenza delivered a golden goal in the 95th minute to send Xavier men's soccer to a 1-0 win over visiting Marquette on Saturday at the XU Soccer Complex.

With the win, the Musketeers (9-4-1, 3-2-1 BIG EAST) pick up a third straight result and remain in fourth-place in the BIG EAST with three regular season matches to go. Marquette drops to 5-7-2 (1-4-1 BIG EAST) with the setback.

"We kind of dug ourselves a hole in the BIG EAST and, like it or not, the guys have been in a playoff mode with our backs against the wall for three games now," said head coach Andy Fleming. "There's some urgency there. We didn't talk about it a lot, but we knew. It's good to get a result."

After narrowly missing a goal in the 38th when Ian Vicars hit the crossbar off a counter, Xavier went into the locker room with a 9-8 advantage in shots.

The Musketeers found less opportunities in the second half and had to fend off a slew of restart attempts from Marquette, but managed well on the defensive end as Dallas Jaye tied a career-high with six saves.

"I thought Dallas was very strong back there," said Fleming. "And I think they threatened us a little bit with volume, but not so much with quality off restarts."

In the 95th, Vasquenza took in a long ball from defender Matt Nance, streaking down the left side of the field before beating his defender one-on-one and finishing far post for his fourth goal of the season.

"I started running and I instantly knew it might not go out, and then I got there and I had the kid one-on-one," said Vasquenza. "We've been working on [finishing] all week and I knew I just had to take the kid and go at him. Scoring a goal feels like nothing else, but just to do it for these guys and the seniors to make sure we keep going – there's just no other feeling like it."

XU returns to action on Wednesday night at No. 1 Creighton. First touch is set for 8:00 p.m. ET.

Vasquenza's Golden Goal

Game-winner. #LetsGoX pic.twitter.com/AultV3UqZo
— Xavier Men's Soccer (@XavierMSOC) October 25, 2015

HIGHLIGHT: Matt Vasquenza tallies the golden goal to lift XU to a 1-0 win in the 95th minute! #LetsGoX https://t.co/zM4gA0GRLx
— Xavier Men's Soccer (@XavierMSOC) October 25, 2015